Page 180 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

HO CHINESE PORCELAIN.

Many of the pieces vary so much in shade that it is difficult
to sometimes to which colour
say they belong.
and
Souffle Jasper.
No. 209. made of dark brown ware, as seen in the
Wine-jar
unglazed base. Height, 9 J inches. No mark. This piece was
sent from China as an old Kwan-chou or Yao wine-jar. It is
covered with a bluish which seems to have been
purple glaze,
thrown on to a lighter coloured ground in small particles. These
appear to have run down in places, giving the surface a mottled
look.
52 " The souffle decoration is laid
Jacquemart, p. : upon
a enamel to
greyish-blue entirely opaque. This, according
the is how is obtained.
description of Pere d'Entrecolles, it
The colour, made of the is in a tube,
proper consistency, placed
one end of which is covered with a close gauze ; by blowing
through the other end, little drops filled with air are pre-
cipitated upon the enamel. These burst when coming in
contact with the sides of the and reduce themselves into
piece,
little a network like the finest lace.
contiguous circles, forming
Sometimes the souffle colour is blue, more often of a carmine
red, which, at first sight, gives to the piece the appearance of
a violet-like enamel. This decoration often fails, the little
drops do not burst, but form, on the contrary, into little veins,
which run half-melted into the starch-blue glaze. Hence
results a decoration to the
peculiar very agreeable eye—jasper,
not less after than the souffle itself."
sought
The photograph shows how in this case the particles of
colour have run instead of bursting.
"
It is no doubt by means of insufflation that a seme of
silver points upon a warm enamel is produced ; one would
fancy it a lacquer, powdered with gold and silver.
"
Should the souffles be classed among the most ancient
of the Chinese art ? We incline to the affirmative
productions
as regards the silver souffle, but the blue and red lace-like
decorations — at least, the specimens we are acquainted with —
belong to the eighteenth century ; we have even met with
vases of this description dated 1725 to 1755."
Davis, vol. i. p. 309 : " It is remarkable that the grape,
although abundant, is not used in China for the production